obviously, the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, make sure that poorer americans have less access to food, housing and jobs. Oh and cut access to womens health services for rich and poor alike. can't have them uppity broads thinking they're equal or anything!

Weaver95:obviously, the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, make sure that poorer americans have less access to food, housing and jobs. Oh and cut access to womens health services for rich and poor alike. can't have them uppity broads thinking they're equal or anything!

Weaver95:obviously, the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, make sure that poorer americans have less access to food, housing and jobs. Oh and cut access to womens health services for rich and poor alike. can't have them uppity broads thinking they're equal or anything!

Weaver95:obviously, the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, make sure that poorer americans have less access to food, housing and jobs. Oh and cut access to womens health services for rich and poor alike. can't have them uppity broads thinking they're equal or anything!

Still cracks me up that the GOP thinks they only need to wrap their regressive, plutocratic nonsense in a pretty package and everyone will flock to the polls to vote for them...

Been an unenrolled voter since the 90s... Originally registered as a Democratic voter, and had a brief dalliance with the Green Party in college. I end up voting for Democrats mostly because of the insanity of the GOP.

A large chunk of those independents are teatards who don't think the Republican party is conservative enough (which is insane on the face of it.). They'll vote straight ticket Republican when they're in the voting booth.

At some point, though, the strategy of "Yeah, we suck, but Democrat is literally Hitler" is going to burn out for the Republicans. No one votes for them because they like them, any more (even conservatives, who'd prefer deeper conservatism). I know Liberals don't like how centrist the Democratic party's gotten, but it feels like conservative hatred for Republicans is on a different scale

Gulper Eel:Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years

In other words, 56% are still drinking nothing but red or blue kool-aid but will insist nonetheless on their independent-mindedness.

Meh. Are you going to vote for a party that's going to get you 10% of what you want and 10% of what you don't want, while keeping out 50% of what you really don't want? Or are you going to vote for a party that's going to get 0% of the votes in any level of government, regardless of how good their ideas are?

At the end of the day most of that 44% that identifies as "independent" is still going to vote for a major-party candidate.

yeegrek:A large chunk of those independents are teatards who don't think the Republican party is conservative enough (which is insane on the face of it.). They'll vote straight ticket Republican when they're in the voting booth.

The other chunk are the people who are Republicans but embarrassed to admit it in public.

MmmmBacon:TwoHead: The punch line comes when these Fark faux independents vote a straight R ticket the corporate media will tell us that "independent" voters are swinging towards the GOP.

From the article, these new-found Independents are leaning more to the Democratic side, though.

As long as they can find one independent who votes republican, The "liberal" media will report that the independent movement is full of people with traditional conservative values who disapprove of the tactics of the tea party.

Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

PanicMan:Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

I read TFH as "white Republican identification" and thought that's bullshiat. Then I reread it and still thought that's bullshiat. It looks like Republican identification was only around 30% in 1988. Is dropping 5% in a generation significant enough to say "oooh...the Republicans are in decline"? The Democrats lost that same amount in the same time-frame (and since 2008).

Danger Mouse:PanicMan: Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

And those latest polls (which you haven't provided) are meaningless in comparison to an overwhelming majority of Americans support a great deal of individual parts of ACA. It is the branding, rancor and vitriol from the right (mostly lies) that have the idea of Obamacare leaving a bad taste in their mouths.

Now, SHOW ME a poll of Americans who have a high understanding of ACA and what is / isn't, then show me their favorability.

Because anything else is pointless because of how poisoned the well is.

Just remember to handicap any Gallup Poll 2-3 pts +GOP bias/ 2-3pts -Dem bias , and you actually have to Dems up by as much as 10-15 pts.

And when you calculate the American peoples' enduring Nixon shenanigans, with Reagan shenanigans , with Bush/Cheney shenanigans , and you pretty much have a Party that the American people are beginning to realize LIES as a matter of Policy, while they do the Bidding, from soup to nuts, of the Uber Rich. All the caricatures of the GOP turn out to be true. They are heartless,sycophantic,cravenly greedy and unabashedly CONcerned only with the Rich getting Richer.

They think that St Ronald single handedly defeated Communism, and THAT gave the rich and greedy a free hand to pick at the carcass of the once broad American middle class, and that there would be no longer a large mass of people who would eventually rise up out of genuine frustration and sharpen the Guillotine. They , the GOP CONtinues along that path at their clueless peril.

And then yesterday they trot out the likes of Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, and Marco Rubio to address the poverty issue by basically tell the poor they just need to get more bootstrappy and work harder...what a bunch of Fuq'ing Putzes

Danger Mouse:PanicMan: Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

As opposed to the "make poor people fight in the arena for real citizens amusement" mentality of t" so called conservatives?

Cheron:Weaver95: obviously, the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, make sure that poorer americans have less access to food, housing and jobs. Oh and cut access to womens health services for rich and poor alike. can't have them uppity broads thinking they're equal or anything!

after that laser like focus on jobs for sure

They already have a laser like focus on jobs; they are using their laser in an attempt to destroy anyone who does not have a job.

coeyagi:Danger Mouse: PanicMan: Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

And those latest polls (which you haven't provided) are meaningless in comparison to an overwhelming majority of Americans support a great deal of individual parts of ACA. It is the branding, rancor and vitriol from the right (mostly lies) that have the idea of Obamacare leaving a bad taste in their mouths.

Now, SHOW ME a poll of Americans who have a high understanding of ACA and what is / isn't, then show me their favorability.

Because anything else is pointless because of how poisoned the well is.

Sigh.Typical reply. I am seeing a pattern with you, when ever I ask you for stats or to prove somehting you disappear, or reply back with name calling. But yea, here's the polls.

You could learn to google yourself and come back with inteligent answers rather than your cookie cutter responses. But here are the polls that show the majority of Americans don't support the ACA... and just because you say so, no they are not pointless. LoL.

Danger Mouse:PanicMan: Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

Who the f*ck cares about polls? Americans are stupid and poll questions are easy to manipulate. And it's not just liberals. Everyone needs jobs.

Arkanaut:At the end of the day most of that 44% that identifies as "independent" is still going to vote for a major-party candidate.

Some of us registered Greens still end up voting mostly for Democratic candidates because Greens either aren't running local candidates or they run batshiat crazy people at the national level. But when they do run good candidates, I vote for them. I have been known to support good Republican candidates (like Terri Lynn Land when she was MI's SOS) or some Libertarian Party people. Never voted for a Constitution Party candidate though, because they are as crazy or crazier than the crazy GP candidates.

And by "Independent" they mean "I still vote a straight republican ticket but I'm too embarrassed to tell anybody that, and I'm not like the pot smoking neckbeard in IT so I can't say I'm Libertarian".

Ghastly:And by "Independent" they mean "I still vote a straight republican ticket but I'm too embarrassed to tell anybody that, and I'm not like the pot smoking neckbeard in IT so I can't say I'm Libertarian".

I'm too lazy to try and see if anyone has updated earlier polls, but women have been consistently 60+% of Independents. I wonder if that's still true. I certainly wouldn't be surprised--it's not like the GOP has been doing a very good job wooing women. And I know a lot of conservative women who are genuinely horrified by today's GOP. If this still holds true (that the majority of Independents are women,) then Republicans are in real trouble. Romney managed to win over 50% of white women but he needed way more than that and no national candidate can win if the GOP has lost even more ground with that demographic.

ginandbacon:I'm too lazy to try and see if anyone has updated earlier polls, but women have been consistently 60+% of Independents. I wonder if that's still true. I certainly wouldn't be surprised--it's not like the GOP has been doing a very good job wooing women. And I know a lot of conservative women who are genuinely horrified by today's GOP. If this still holds true (that the majority of Independents are women,) then Republicans are in real trouble. Romney managed to win over 50% of white women but he needed way more than that and no national candidate can win if the GOP has lost even more ground with that demographic.

Oh dear. Replace Independents with swing voters there. I may have had a small stroke.

Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

HeartBurnKid:Gulper Eel: Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years

In other words, 56% are still drinking nothing but red or blue kool-aid but will insist nonetheless on their independent-mindedness.

Well, as long as you've found a way to feel superior to both.

I'm in New York. It's hard not to. Over on the right we have Crazypants Carl Paladino, the Donald, a bunch of ancient Republican state senators, some suburban county executives who won their gigs because a lot of ex-city residents who remember the bad old days live there, and one grownup in Congress. And somewhere in the background, Rudy Giuliani and (why?) Al D'Amato.

On the left we have Andrew Cuomo (who at least recognizes there's a New York north of the Bronx), DeBlasio and his crew of Bella Abzug Fan Club members (already going corrupt), Sheldon Silver the ultimate slimy survivor, a bunch of assemblymen who can't stop taking bribes and groping interns, Chuck (So Help Me I Will KILL YOUR ASS If You Get Between Me And A Camera) Schumer, and his sidekick Kirsten the Hot.

And of late we've had Spitzer and Weiner skulking about, and weren't they charming?

I base my vote on one thing primarily: I have ample evidence, particularly where I live, that people given power will inevitably abuse it, whether through emerging character flaws or just plain believing their own PR. I have seen only a handful of examples to contradict that rule.

If I lived in a red state I'd be a Democrat - but I live in about the least Republican state around so I usually vote Republican or Libertarian, if only to express my wish to gum up any utopian plans.

If I lived in a smaller state or one with a weaker central government, I might be inclined to trust legislators more.

worlddan:Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Danger Mouse:coeyagi: Danger Mouse: PanicMan: Even if you were dead set against the ACA (I don't see why but lets run with it), at some point you have to stop beating a dead horse. Hey Republicans, here's a free tip: all people want is a job that lets them take care of their family, and a bit of spending money to have some fun. Do this and you'll get voters back.

The latest polls show the majority of Americans are not in favor of Obamacare. But I agree with you that most liberals support the bread and circus mentality.

And those latest polls (which you haven't provided) are meaningless in comparison to an overwhelming majority of Americans support a great deal of individual parts of ACA. It is the branding, rancor and vitriol from the right (mostly lies) that have the idea of Obamacare leaving a bad taste in their mouths.

Now, SHOW ME a poll of Americans who have a high understanding of ACA and what is / isn't, then show me their favorability.

Because anything else is pointless because of how poisoned the well is.

Sigh.Typical reply. I am seeing a pattern with you, when ever I ask you for stats or to prove somehting you disappear, or reply back with name calling. But yea, here's the polls.

You could learn to google yourself and come back with inteligent answers rather than your cookie cutter responses. But here are the polls that show the majority of Americans don't support the ACA... and just because you say so, no they are not pointless. LoL.

Sigh, typical reply - full of sh*t.

1) A pattern is not 1 data point - you are basing this off of yesterday when I left because.... SHOCKER... I have a life beyond work and Fark. Sorry, you had the unfortunate luck to cast the last stone right before I left. But don't pout like this is a pattern, or do so... and be called a liar.2) Also, those polls are pointless because Americans don't know sh*t about ACA. If I ask retards what they think of quantum physics, do you expect meaningful results? Your cherished GOP has f*cking lied so god damn much about ACA - primarily with the biggest lie of them all, that this is government-run healthcare - any results are meaningless unless you poll educated, informed people.

So, sigh, keep derping up polls that have no value because the people being polled have no information other than the lies being fed to them.

Gulper Eel:Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years

In other words, 56% are still drinking nothing but red or blue kool-aid but will insist nonetheless on their independent-mindedness.

That makes no sense, you know.

I mean, I'm an independent, but there is no reason in the world for me to vote Republican, so I guess that makes me a Democrat. There USED to be reasons to vote Republican. But that stopped in 1980 or thereabouts.

mrshowrules:worlddan: Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Why not just work to have better better candidates nominated.

I went down that road once upon a time but I realized that my disagreements with the party were more than something the right person could fix. I'm one of these odd ducks that is conservative on social issues (I'm anti-abortion, for instance) but very liberal on economic issue (I support single payer, hikes in the minimum wage, environmental regulations). For at least a decade I've had a head vs heart battle which I've let my head win, mostly with the aid of inertia.. But I can't do it anymore. I'll still probably vote Democratic. I actually like my Congresspeople, who are all Democrats. But I simply cannot call myself a member of that party anymore.

worlddan:mrshowrules: worlddan: Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Why not just work to have better better candidates nominated.

I went down that road once upon a time but I realized that my disagreements with the party were more than something the right person could fix. I'm one of these odd ducks that is conservative on social issues (I'm anti-abortion, for instance) but very liberal on economic issue (I support single payer, hikes in the minimum wage, environmental regulations). For at least a decade I've had a head vs heart battle which I've let my head win, mostly with the aid of inertia.. But I can't do it anymore. I'll still probably vote Democratic. I actually like my Congresspeople, who are all Democrats. But I simply cannot call myself a member of that party anymore.

Based on your position, I would have a hard time categorizing you also. Whip?

worlddan:mrshowrules: worlddan: Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Why not just work to have better better candidates nominated.

I went down that road once upon a time but I realized that my disagreements with the party were more than something the right person could fix. I'm one of these odd ducks that is conservative on social issues (I'm anti-abortion, for instance) but very liberal on economic issue (I support single payer, hikes in the minimum wage, environmental regulations). For at least a decade I've had a head vs heart battle which I've let my head win, mostly with the aid of inertia.. But I can't do it anymore. I'll still probably vote Democratic. I actually like my Congresspeople, who are all Democrats. But I simply cannot call myself a member of that party anymore.

Follow-up. If you think reducing the number of abortions is more important than criminalizing abortions, you should favour almose all DNC policies.

Countries with single-payer and government-paid abortions, have a significantly lower abortion rate.

mrshowrules:worlddan: mrshowrules: worlddan: Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Follow-up. If you think reducing the number of abortions is more important than criminalizing abortions,

I do not think that. However, I'll leave off there because this is a thread about becoming an independent not a thread about abortion policy.

yeegrek:A large chunk of those independents are teatards who don't think the Republican party is conservative enough (which is insane on the face of it.). They'll vote straight ticket Republican when they're in the voting booth.

This study really is useless.

The issue is that they choose not to vote on Election Day. See Romney, M., 2012.

bronyaur1:yeegrek: A large chunk of those independents are teatards who don't think the Republican party is conservative enough (which is insane on the face of it.). They'll vote straight ticket Republican when they're in the voting booth.

This study really is useless.

The issue is that they choose not to vote on Election Day. See Romney, M., 2012.

That's why they need to nominate Ted Cruz. Time to put up or shut up. I keep hearing, "Well, he lost because he wasn't a REAL conservative (never mind the fact that the party nominated him). He didn't inspire us to vote, despite four months of us screaming how this was this most important election of our lifetimes and the very fate of America hangs in the balance". I see. So let's test that theory. Nominate a "real" conservative, and let's see if he wins. If not, that's the last I expect to hear of that excuse.

yeegrek:bronyaur1: yeegrek: A large chunk of those independents are teatards who don't think the Republican party is conservative enough (which is insane on the face of it.). They'll vote straight ticket Republican when they're in the voting booth.

This study really is useless.

The issue is that they choose not to vote on Election Day. See Romney, M., 2012.

That's why they need to nominate Ted Cruz. Time to put up or shut up. I keep hearing, "Well, he lost because he wasn't a REAL conservative (never mind the fact that the party nominated him). He didn't inspire us to vote, despite four months of us screaming how this was this most important election of our lifetimes and the very fate of America hangs in the balance". I see. So let's test that theory. Nominate a "real" conservative, and let's see if he wins. If not, that's the last I expect to hear of that excuse.

This.Even the so called "moderates" would be better off if they just sacrificed one election and helped put a "true conservative" on the ballot.Let him fall on his own sword in front of everyone.

worlddan:mrshowrules: worlddan: mrshowrules: worlddan: Three days ago I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to "no party". Been a registered donkey for almost 30 years. I simply do not believe that either party represents my best interests anymore. If I weren't so lazy I'd start my own party.

Follow-up. If you think reducing the number of abortions is more important than criminalizing abortions,

I do not think that. However, I'll leave off there because this is a thread about becoming an independent not a thread about abortion policy.

After the 2012 Presidential election (wherein I did not vote for Mr. Mitt Romney, after having not voted for Senator McCain in the previous Presidential election and after not having voted for President Bush in the Presidential election prior to that) I realized that my vestigial Republican registration was based more upon disagreement with Democratic principles of 1996, and not with any alignment of Republican ideals of 2012. I therefore have re-registered as an Independent.

I do not fully agree with Democratic party principles of today, but I am closer in alignment to them than I am of a party that wishes to turn homosexuals into second-class citizens, to treat women as incubators with no rights over their own bodies, to engage in perpetual war with whatever Middle East nation can be made to look evil through appropriate application of propaganda, to eliminate any and all environmental protections that prevent businesses from making air completely unbreathable and water entirely undrinkable and to establish a taxation system that deliberately concentrates all wealth in the top 1%.

I did not leave the Republican party. The Republican party went full potato.

my party affiliation has been 'Undeclared' since i've been able to vote. it just makes sense with closed primaries. declaring a party means you get that ballot. period. in Alaska the primary ballots are "R" and "not R".

at one point i would say i was 'independent' but that word has had a bit of a taint on it for quite some time. as it is almost always equated with teabagger or right-wing insanity. compounded more in the fact there is the actual nutball 'Alaska Independence' party that it can easily be confused with.

in Alaska 'Undeclared' is actually the single biggest 'party' with 36.6% of voters and non-partisan at 16%. combined that gives you a majority of the voters with no party affiliation at 52.6%. actual registered Republicans in Alaska is only 25.9%. (those are all numbers from 2010.) Alaska is obviously quite a red state though.